This morning we packed the car, seriously wondering why we had brought everything into the hotel in the first place. We walked across the street to the Friday morning farmer’s market. It was not much: far more crafts than food. There was one booth where a couple of very serious looking people were hawking some kind of book about talking to your children about Santa Claus. I had a feeling they did not approve of the old gent.
One of the things we bought at the market was a jar of strawberry preserves sold by the ladies of Saint Paul’s Anglican Church. Since the church was right next to the hotel, we decided to just stick our heads in and take a picture. As I was leaving I was pleased to see the poster for the parish EFM program!
We left Nanaimo on the main highway once again passing an almost unbelievable number of strip malls. Fortunately, there were fewer billboards to mar the view. Our guide on the little ferry boat last night had told us we should stop in Parksville on the way up because it was a great beach for dogs. It was wonderful advice. It is a huge, flat beach and the water is surprisingly warm.
Edie and Eli found some playmates. When other dogs were not around, Eli chased his tennis ball into the water.
It is not altogether easy to see in the picture below, but we found the most fantastic little hotel there. You can see the turrets of the castle there behind the RV’s and there is a real snow-covered mountain in the background. It must be just like being at Disneyland for a whole lot less money.
Edie half-heartedly chased a few birds, but this flock of Canada Geese paid little attention to her.
The road from Parksville to Port Alberni is pretty straight and fast. But after Port Alberni towns vanish and the road become incredibly winding. It’s just gorgeous as you drive past groves of giant cedar and dark fjords with glaciers looming in the distance. But at no point do you ever take your eyes off the road particularly as you try to shoot past the RVs when there is the occasional broken line on the pavement. We will have to take this road back, so perhaps we will stop and take a picture then.
We came into Tofino a little after three in the afternoon and found our condo without any problem. But we were not supposed to check in until four, and the cleaner was busy using the wireless internet connection and not inclined to let us in until he was done. So we went into the village and talked to the woman at the tourist information office. She suggested we take the dogs to the nearest town beach, Tonquin Park. It was a great place to pass an hour. You have to walk down a wooden boardwalk and stairs to reach the beach.
Once there, the dogs romped around and got their feet a little wet.
Once it was past four, we went back to the condo. It is right on the water overlooking Tofino Harbor and the islands of Clayoquot Sound.
We learned that the development is called Eik Landing after the Eik cedar tree shown in the picture below. This is possibly the oldest tree in the area. It started to grow sometime around 1200 AD! It was sacred to the First Nations people who lived here. Unfortunately, the trunk has become so weak with age that the city was about to have to cut it down to prevent an accident. Residents decided instead to create a system of supports to keep the tree alive for as long as possible.
This is maybe the nicest place we have stayed on the trip so far – except, of course, for Mike and Ellen’s house – and the best feature of the place is the balcony with its views of the water. John found his way there right after we were finished packing, and he soon had some company as well.
Here is what you see from right outside our living room.
After soaking in the view for a while, we walked into the village with the dogs. Tofino is about a far west and you can go in British Columbia, other, I suppose than the Queen Charlotte Islands.
As we walked around, we watched fingers of fog go in and out of the inlets and island of the Sound.
We stopped by the grocery store and picked up some salmon and chicken which we cooked on the grill for dinner. We spent the night watching all the episodes of Summer Heights High on cable.
Tomorrow, we’ll explore more of the beaches of this area.
